Image forming apparatus and notification method for image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus, including: a detector that detects a user who is positioned within a certain range from the apparatus; a verification unit that identifies the detected user by verification; a determination unit that determines whether there is print data which is not output yet on the basis of user identifiable information which is identified by the verification unit; and a notification unit that notifies the user that the print data is not printed yet on the basis of a result which indicates the presence of the print data from the determination unit.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image formingapparatus and a notification method for the image forming apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In the related art, there is known a multifunctional peripheral (MFP)that deletes image data that a user forgets to output as time passesfrom the point in time of storage of the image data.

There is also known a printing apparatus that outputs a printed matteraccording to an output operation performed by a user on a panel of theprinting apparatus after storing print data received from a userterminal.

The printing apparatus does not print the print data immediately afterreceiving the print data but temporarily stores the print data accordingto a setting from the user terminal.

Preventing saturation of the storage capacity is required for theprinting apparatus. The printing apparatus deletes print data files thatare not output for a preset period. Alternatively, the printingapparatus prompts a user to print the print data by display on theoperation panel.

However, the print data may be previously deleted when the user wants tooutput the printed matter. In addition, the user may not pay attentionto the display even if the image forming apparatus outputs the displaythat prompts the user to print the print data.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatusaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job management tablethat is used in the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for describing a notification method for the imageforming apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list that is stored ona storage unit of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of identificationperformed by a verification unit;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the field of vision of a camera thatis used in the verification unit;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of verificationperformed by the verification unit;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of verification databy the verification unit;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a notification methoddetermination performed by a notification unit;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message by thenotification unit;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another example of the message; and

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for describing a method of changing audio outputby the notification unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus, including: adetector that detects a user who is positioned within a certain rangefrom the apparatus; a verification unit that identifies the detecteduser by verification; a determination unit that determines whether thereis print data which is not output yet on the basis of user identifiableinformation which is identified by the verification unit; and anotification unit that notifies the user that the print data is notprinted yet on the basis of a result which indicates the presence of theprint data from the determination unit.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be provided for an imageforming apparatus and a display method for the image forming apparatusaccording to an embodiment with the appended drawings as an example. Thesame components in each drawing are given the same reference sign, and aduplicate description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the image forming apparatusaccording to the embodiment.

An MFP 10 is provided with a detector 11, a verification unit 12, adetermination unit 13, and a notification unit 14.

The MFP 10 is provided with a camera 15, a storage unit 16, a distancesensor 17 (sensor), and a speaker 18.

The detector 11 detects a user who is positioned within a certain rangefrom the MFP 10.

The verification unit 12 identifies the user detected by the detector 11by verification.

The determination unit 13 determines whether there is print data that isnot output yet by a user identification (ID) identified by theverification unit 12. The user ID is user identifiable information.

The notification unit 14 notifies the user that print data is notprinted yet on the basis of a determination result indicating thepresence of print data from the determination unit 13.

The detector 11 is, for example, an infrared sensor that has apyroelectric device. The detector 11 detects a person within apredetermined distance from the MFP 10.

The detector 11 horizontally faces the front space when viewed from theMFP 10. Alternatively, the detector 11 faces the floor in front of theMFP 10. The detector 11 has a three-dimensional detection range.

The verification unit 12 verifies an individual person with the camera15 by facial verification.

The verification unit 12 extracts facial feature data from image dataobtained from the camera 15.

The verification unit 12 outputs a user ID by facial verification thatis based on the image captured from the camera 15 and a facial imagestored on the storage unit 16.

The determination unit 13 determines input and output of files by jobmanagement.

The function of the determination unit 13 is performed by an operatingsystem (OS) that has a job management table and a central processingunit (CPU) program that accesses a job registration memory.

The notification unit 14 notifies the user of a message that indicatesthe presence of print data at the timing of detection of the user by thedetector 11.

The notification by the notification unit 14 may be performed byoutputting audio from the speaker 18.

The notification unit 14 may have a light-emitting diode (LED).

The distance sensor 17 outputs distance information between the user andthe MFP 10. The notification unit 14, after audio is output, changes thelevel of the audio or the output interval of the audio on the basis ofthe distance information.

The notification unit 14 may change both the level of the audio and theoutput interval of the audio on the basis of the distance information.

The notification unit 14 may transmit the notification to a PC 35 (userterminal) via mail.

The camera 15 uses, for example, a complementary MOS (CMOS) imagesensor.

The MFP 10 is also provided with an operation panel 19, a controller 20,and a network interface 21.

The operation panel 19 includes an input device 37 such as a button anda key. The operation panel 19 includes a window 23 and the speaker 18.

The controller 20 is a main controller that manages the entire operationof the MFP 10.

The network interface 21 is a local area network (LAN) card.

The network interface 21 receives a print request from the personalcomputer (PC) 35 through a network 24.

The MFP 10 is provided with a scanner 111, an image processing unit 112,and a printing unit 113.

The scanner 111 scans an original document from an automatic documentfeeder (ADF) 114.

The image processing unit 112 converts the image data in three colors ofR, G, and B into the image data in four print colors of Y, M, C, and K.

The printing unit 113 prints the image with four print colors of C, M,Y, and K.

The printing unit 113 is provided with four light exposers 129, imageforming units 131C, 131M, 131Y, and 131K, and a belt 130.

The light exposer 129 modulates laser light from each colorsemiconductor laser according to an image signal. The belt 130 endlesslytravels in a counterclockwise direction V.

The yellow image forming unit 131Y is provided with a drum 132, acharger 133, a developer 134, and a transfer unit 135.

The drum 132 is a photoconductive drum that rotates in a clockwisedirection T.

The charger 133 charges the surface of the drum 132.

The developer 134 develops an electrostatic latent image on the drum 132with toner.

The transfer unit 135 primarily transfers the toner image on the drum132 onto the belt 130.

Configurations of the magenta image forming unit 131M, the cyan imageforming unit 131C, and the black image forming unit 131K aresubstantially the same as the configuration of the image forming unit131Y.

The printing unit 113 further includes a sheet conveyor 136, a secondarytransfer unit 137, and a fixer 138.

The sheet conveyor 136 guides a sheet P from a tray 139 to the printingunit 113.

The secondary transfer unit 137 secondarily transfers the four-coloredtoner image formed by the image forming units 131C, 131M, 131Y, and 131Konto the sheet P.

The fixer 138 fixes a toner image that is not fixed yet onto the sheetP.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatusaccording to the embodiment. FIG. 2 mainly illustrates a control system36. The previously described reference sign represents the correspondingelement.

The MFP 10 is provided with the control system 36.

The detection range of the detector 11 depends on the capability of thepyroelectric device to detect a heat source.

The verification unit 12 obtains the image of a person who approachesthe MFP 10. The MFP 10 is capable of performing verification without theuser operating facial verification and the like consciously.

The notification is transmitted to the user via mail through the networkinterface (I/F) 21. The speaker 18 may output audio.

The verification unit 12 is provided with, for example, a unit thatcompares the facial image and the captured data including the facialpart of the user within the range of the camera 15.

The verification unit 12 may identify the user from one or more ofspecific users by referring to a user information list that is stored onthe storage unit 16.

The specific user indicates, for example, a specific person in a certaindepartment or on a certain floor among all employees.

The MFP 10 includes a job management table 33 used by the determinationunit 13 on a storage 31. Alternatively, the storage unit 16 or a RAM 29may store the job management table 33.

The camera 15 obtains an image that includes the user who is positionedin the vicinity of the MFP 10. The camera 15 has wide vision (angle ofview) in the vicinity of the MFP 10.

The vicinity of the MFP 10 means a space having a range in which thesuccess rate of verification performed by the verification unit 12 isgreater than a desired threshold.

The control system 36 includes the storage 31 and a user interfacecontrol unit (UI control unit) 32.

A hard disk drive (HDD) is used in the storage 31. The storage 31constitutes the storage unit 16.

The storage 31 (or the storage unit 16 or the RAM 29) may store the jobmanagement table 33.

A user information list 38 stores a user ID associated with print datathat is not output yet.

The storage 31 stores the OS that a CPU 27 executes.

The user interface control unit 32 controls a user interface that isrelated to the notification unit 14, the speaker 18, and the operationpanel 19.

The control performed by the user interface control unit 32 targets, forexample, message display performed by the notification unit 14;switching of display of the window 23; reception of input from the inputdevice 37; and amplification of the audio signal transmitted to thespeaker 18.

The control system 36 also includes the CPU 27, a read-only memory (ROM)28, the random access memory (RAM) 29, and a page memory 30 on a bus 26.

The CPU 27 performs the function of the determination unit 13 and thecontroller 20.

The ROM 28 stores an application program that the CPU 27 executes.

The RAM 29 transmits and receives data between the OS and the CPUprogram.

The page memory 30 stores image data that is sent from the scanner 111to the printing unit 113.

A notification method for the image forming apparatus according to thepresent embodiment is a method of notifying the user that a print filethat is not output yet remains in the MFP 10.

The method of notifying the user uses the detector 11 to detect the userwho is positioned within a certain range from the MFP 10.

The method uses the verification unit 12 to identify the user byverification.

The method uses the determination unit 13 to determine whether there isprint data that is not output yet on the basis of the user informationobtained by identification.

The method uses the notification unit 14 to notify the user of theresult that indicates the presence of print data.

The notification is triggered by the detection of the presence of theuser within the range.

The notification is performed by displaying a message or outputtingaudio. The notification may be performed by mail transmission to the PC35.

The method, before the detection of the user, generates the userinformation list 38 on which print data that is not output yet isassociated with a user ID.

In the identification of the user, the method identifies the user fromone or more of specific users by referring to the user information list.

In the notification, the method may change the level of the audio andthe output interval of the audio on the basis of the distanceinformation between the user and the MFP 10.

Next, the operation of the MFP 10 having the above configuration will bedescribed.

The MFP 10 is introduced in a certain department or on a certain floor.

A server 34 stores the user ID of multiple users belonging to thedepartment.

For example, the server 34 may collect the user ID when each user logson the server 34 from the PC 35.

The controller 20 obtains the user ID from the server 34 after the MFP10 is started. The OS registers a job in the job management table 33.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the job management table33. The previously described reference sign represents the correspondingelement.

The OS stores a job type associated with a user ID in order ofoccurrence of a job.

The job management table 33 indicates the presence of a print job thatis not output yet.

The job type indicates, for example, a copy job, a print job, and a scanjob.

The copy job is a job in which the printing unit 113 prints data that isscanned by the scanner 111.

The print job is a job in which the printing unit 113 prints print spooldata from the PC 35.

The scan job is a job in which the scanned data is transmitted to theremote server 34. The scan job also includes a job in which the scanneddata is stored on the storage 31.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for describing the notification method for the MFP10.

In Act S1, the controller 20, for example, generates the userinformation list on the basis of the job management table 33.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user information list38.

Print data that is not output yet is associated with a user ID on theuser information list 38.

“Verification data” is feature data of a user for facial verification.“Verification data” is associated with an address pointer of the storage31. The storage 31 stores facial image data for each user at the addresspointer.

“Notification method” is the type of the notification method that is setin advance by a user. “Notification method” is registered according to asetting made on the server 34 by, for example, the PC 35 or theoperation panel 19.

“LED” represents a notification method in which the user interfacecontrol unit 32 causes the LED to blink.

In Act S2 in FIG. 4, the detector 11 continues to detect a user (routeNO).

When the detector 11 passes through the route YES according to detectionof a user in Act S2, the verification unit 12 identifies the user in ActS3.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of identificationperformed by the verification unit 12.

In ACT A1, the verification unit 12 obtains an image.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the field of vision of the camera 15.The previously described reference sign represents the correspondingelement.

A field of vision F of the camera 15 is a three-dimensional range. Auser who is positioned in the vicinity of the MFP 10 is included in therange. The camera 15 outputs a plane image area from thethree-dimensional field of vision F. The camera 15 captures the imagearea as a stationary image or a moving image.

The controller 20 or the verification unit 12 obtains the image of thevicinity of the MFP 10 from the camera 15.

In Act A2 in FIG. 6, the verification unit 12 extracts a facial image.

In Act A2, the verification unit 12 detects a moving object area in theimage area. The verification unit 12 trims a part that is equivalent tothe size of the head of a person from the size of the object in thechanging area.

In Act A3, the verification unit 12 identifies a user.

In Act A4, the verification unit 12 checks the presence or absence ofthe verification data.

In Act S4 in FIG. 4, the verification unit 12 performs facialverification for the user.

For example, the verification unit 12 extracts contours; extractselements such as eyes, a mouth, a nose, ears, a hairstyle, accessories,and facial color; and digitizes features of the elements.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of verificationperformed by the verification unit 12.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the verificationdata. The previously described reference sign represents thecorresponding element. FIG. 9 illustrates facial images stored at theaddress pointers of the storage 31. *m and the like represent theaddress pointers.

In Act B1 in FIG. 8, the presence of the verification data isdetermined.

In Act B1, when the verification data exists, the verification unit 12passes through the route YES. In Act B2, the verification unit 12searches for the verification data from the user information.

In Act B2, the verification unit 12 determines that the verificationdata is not matched. The verification unit 12, after passing through theroute “not matched”, increments the pointer of a user ID to the nextuser ID in Act B3.

In Act B4, the verification unit 12 determines whether the user ID is amaximum value. The maximum value is, for example, the number of entrieson the user information list 38.

When the user ID is less than the maximum value, the verification unit12 passes through the route NO in Act B4 and returns to the process ofAct B2.

In Act B2, when the verification unit 12 determines that theverification data is matched, the verification unit 12 passes throughthe route “matched” and ends the process.

Alternatively, in Act B4, when the verification unit 12 determines thatthe user ID exceeds the maximum value, the verification unit 12 ends theprocess.

The verification unit 12 is assumed to obtain, for example, a user Ahaving a user ID “0”, a user B having a user ID “1”, a user C having auser ID “2”, and a user D having a user ID “3”.

In Act S5 in FIG. 4, the verification unit 12 determines the presence orabsence of the print job of the user ID.

In Act S5, the verification unit 12 searches the user information list38.

For example, the user B having the user ID “1” and the user D having theuser ID “3” exist on the user information list 38.

In Act S5, the verification unit 12, according to the determination ofthe presence of the print job, passes through the route YES. In Act S6,the controller 20 determines whether a notification method is set.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a notification methoddetermination.

To describe with the user D who agreed to be notified, the controller 20refers to the user information list 38 in Act C1.

In Act C2, the controller 20 determines whether notification is set.

When notification is not set in Act C2, the controller 20 passes throughthe route NO and ends the process.

When the controller 20 determines that notification is set in Act C2,the controller 20 passes through the route YES and reads the content ofthe notification setting from the user information list 38 in Act C4.

In Act C4, when the controller 20 determines that notification is set,the controller 20 passes through the route YES and ends the process witha return value that indicates the type of the content of notification inAct C5.

In Act S7 in FIG. 4, the controller 20 notifies the notification unit 14of a message by using the extracted notification method.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the message by thenotification unit 14. The previously described reference sign representsthe corresponding element.

When there is a print file that is not output yet, the target user D isnotified of the message.

To describe with the user B who does not set notification, thecontroller 20 extracts the corresponding notification method (Acts C1,C2, and C3), passes through the route NO according to the determinationof the setting in which notification is not set, and ends the process.

Even if the controller 20 determines that the notification method is set(route YES in Act C3), the controller 20 passes through the route NO inAct C4 when notification is not set and ends the process in Act C6 witha return value that indicates notification is not set.

The notification unit 14 does not transmit the message to the user Baccording to the user B who does not set notification. The message canbe customized for each user.

In Act S5 in FIG. 4, when the print job does not exist, the controller20 passes through the route NO and ends the process.

According to the description so far, the controller 20 ends the process.

The notification method can be changed variously.

In Act S6, the controller 20 may notify the PC 35 of the fact that printdata is not output yet. Settings on the MFP 10 are performed in advanceby the user.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another example of the message by thenotification unit 14. The previously described reference sign representsthe corresponding element.

The absence of the print job that is not output yet can be checked onthe PC 35. Forgetting of printing can be prevented.

The notification unit 14 may change the audio output on the basis of thedistance information between the user and the MFP 10.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for describing a method of changing the audiooutput by the notification unit 14.

In Act D1, the distance sensor 17 measures a distance.

The distance means the distance between the user and the MFP 10.

In Act D2, the notification unit 14 determines whether the distanceobtained in Act D1 is greater than the distance when the user isidentified and verified.

In Act D2, when the notification unit 14 determines that the obtaineddistance is greater, the notification unit 14 passes through the routeYES. In Act D3, the notification unit 14 increases the level of theaudio output.

In Act D3, the notification unit 14 may decrease the interval ofrepeated output of auditory guidance that says “There is a printedmatter that is not output yet”.

In Act D2, when the notification unit 14 determines that the obtaineddistance is smaller, the notification unit 14 passes through the routeNO. In Act D4, the notification unit 14 decreases the level of the audiooutput.

In Act D4, the notification unit 14 may increase the interval ofrepeated output of the auditory guidance.

By having such a configuration, the fact that there is print data thatis not output yet is notified to the user according to the settingwithout requiring the consciousness of the user.

According to the image forming apparatus and the notification method forthe image forming apparatus in the embodiment, forgetting of print dataoutput can be prevented.

According to the apparatus and the method, the user does not need toconsciously operate the operation panel 19. When the user approaches thevicinity of the MFP 10, audio is output to the user, and mail isnotified to the user.

The user in the department and the like can be notified of the presenceor absence of print data that is not output yet.

The user having print data can receive notification that prompts theuser to output the print data. Forgetting of print data output can beprevented.

The MFP 10 can prevent the saturation of the storage capacity of thestorage 31.

The print data being previously deleted when the user wants to outputthe printed matter can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, an ultrasonic wave transceiver device or aradar transceiver device may be used in the detector 11. The detector 11may be a personal load sensor that is disposed under the floor in thevicinity of the MFP 10.

The MFP 10 may include the storage unit 16 on the server 34. Theverification unit 12 receives the user information list from the storageunit 16 via the network 24.

The camera 15 may be disposed apart from the MFP 10. The MFP 10 mayobtain the user who approaches the vicinity of the MFP 10 by receivingthe image from the camera 15 that is apart from the MFP 10.

The function of the verification unit 12 is performed by otherprocessors, ROMs, RAMs, LSIs, and the like. The MFP 10 may performpersonal verification through a wireless medium such as radio frequencyidentification (RFID) or a wireless tag.

The MFP 10 may include the notification unit 14 and the speaker 18separately from the operation panel 19.

The MFP 10 may include the notification unit 14 on the operation panel19.

In the above embodiment, a capturing unit in which multiple capturingelements such as a charge coupled device (CCD) may be used instead ofthe camera 15.

A solid state drive (SSD) may be used in the storage 31.

In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus may be a printingapparatus other than the MFP 10.

In the above embodiment, the MFP 10 may request the user to log on afterthe MFP 10 is started.

The print data may be accumulated on the storage 31 due to jobs otherthan the print job, the copy job, and the scan job. The MFP 10 maynotify the user that print data that is generated by these jobs is notoutput yet.

An example of other jobs is a job of transmitting data that is scannedby the scanner 111 via FAX; a FAX reception job in which the printingunit 113 prints image data that is received via FAX; a mail transmissionjob of mailing files on the storage 31 to an address; or a job ofprinting files after the files are stored on the storage 31 from a USBmemory.

The superiority of the image forming apparatus and the notificationmethod for the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment overa product that is embodied through these modifications is not impaired.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems describedherein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore variousomissions and substitutions and changes in the form of methods andsystems described herein may be made without departing from the spiritof the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents areintended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within thescope and spirits of the inventions.

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a detector that detects auser who is positioned within a certain range from the apparatus; animage capturing device configured to capture a first image of the userbased on detection result by the detector; an identification unit thatidentifies the detected user based on the first image and the secondimage stored on a memory; a determination unit that determines whetherthere is print data which is not output yet on the basis of useridentifiable information identified by the identification unit; and anotification unit that notifies the user that the print data is notprinted yet on the basis of a result which indicates the presence of theprint data from the determination unit.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the notification unit notifies the user of the result at atiming of detection of the user by the detector.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein notification by the notification unit performed by oneor more of displaying a message, outputting audio, and transmitting mailto a user terminal.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: astorage unit that stores a user information list on which the print datawhich is not output yet is associated with the user identifiableinformation, wherein the identification unit identifies the user fromone or more of specific users by referring to the user information list.5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a sensor that outputsdistance information between the user and the apparatus, wherein thenotification unit outputs audio and changes one or more of the level ofthe audio and the output interval of the audio on the basis of thedistance information.
 6. A notification method for an image formingapparatus, comprising: detecting a user who is positioned within acertain range from the apparatus; capturing a first image of the userbased on detection result; identifying the user based on the first imageand a second image stored in a memory in advance; determining whetherthere is print data that is not output yet on the basis of useridentifiable information after identification; and notifying the userthat the print data is not printed yet on the basis of a result whichindicates the presence of the print data.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the notifying is triggered by the detecting of the presence ofthe user within the range.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein thenotifying is performed by one or more of displaying a message,outputting audio, and transmitting mail to a user terminal.
 9. Themethod of claim 6, further comprising: generating a user informationlist on which the print data that is not output yet is associated withthe user identifiable information before the detecting of the user,wherein in the identifying of the user, the user is identified from oneor more of specific users by referring to the user information list. 10.The method of claim 6, wherein in the notifying, one or more of thelevel of the audio and the output interval of the audio are changed onthe basis of distance information between the user and the apparatus.11. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprises a controller configuredto control the notification unit wherein the notification is performedby transmitting the mail and the controller determines whether thenotification is required is set for detected user by the detector, andtransmits the mail to the detected user by determination resultindicative of that the notification is required.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the storage unit associates further with a notificationmethod for every user identifiable information in the user informationlist and the notification unit notifies using the notification methodmatched for identified user by the identification unit in the userinformation list.
 13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the notificationunit compares a first distance from the sensor obtained when the user isidentified with a second distance obtained from the sensor afteridentification of the user, and increases a first level of the audio ifthe second distance is greater than the first distance and decreases asecond level of the audio if the second distance is smaller than thefirst distance.
 14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the notificationunit compares a first distance obtained from the sensor when the user isidentified with a second distance obtained from the sensor afteridentification of the user, and increases a first output interval if thesecond distance is greater than the first distance and decreases asecond output interval if the second distance is smaller than the firstdistance.
 15. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification isperformed by transmitting the mail and in the notifying the user,determining whether the notification is required is set for detecteduser; and transmitting the mail to the detected user by determinationresult indicative of that the notification is required.
 16. The methodof claim 9, wherein in the generating the user information list beforethe detecting of the user, associating further with a notificationmethod for every user identifiable information in the user informationlist and in the notifying the user, notifying using the notificationmethod matched for identified user in the user information list.
 17. Themethod of claim 10, wherein in the notifying the user, comparing a firstdistance from the sensor obtained when the user is identified with asecond distance obtained from the sensor after identification of theuser; increasing a first level of the audio if the second distance isgreater than the first distance; and decreasing a second level of theaudio if the second distance is smaller than the first distance.
 18. Themethod of claim 10, wherein in the notifying the user, comparing a firstdistance obtained from the sensor when the user is identified with asecond distance obtained from the sensor after identification of theuser; increasing a first output interval if a second distance is greaterthan the first distance; and decreasing a second output interval if thesecond distance is smaller than the first distance.